Flying tape splice for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape



July 3, 1956 J. H. CASEY 2,752,984

FLYING TAPE SPLICE FOR PRESSEZR-SENSITIVEI ADHESIVE TAPE Filed March 26, 1952 United States Patent FLYING TAPE SPLICE FOR PRESSURE-SENSITIVE.

ADHESIVE TAPE James H. Casey, Roseville Township, Ramsey County, Minm, assignor to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn. a corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1952, Serial No. 278,716

8 Claims. (Cl. 154-42) This invention relates to the feeding of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape from a supply to a point where the tape is to be used.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is usually put up in rolls of a given length. If the use to which the tape is being put requires more than the amount of tape that can conveniently be contained in a roll or other batch supply, a fresh supply must be substituted when the first is exhausted. This causes a loss of time, and such losses are costly, particularly where the tape is being used by a continuously operating machine.

An important objective therefore, is to provide a means whereby an exhausted supply of tape can be replaced by a fresh batch or supply in a continuous tape feeding operation without interrupting the feed.

The invention provides a means for splicing the leading end of a fresh or second supply of tape to the trailing end of the exhausted or first supply while the latter is moving from the source to the point of use at its normal speed.

A platen is positioned on one side of the path of the moving tape. A movable splicing roller is on the opposite side. The leading end of the tape from the second or replacement supply of tape is temporarily adhered to the periphery of the splicing roller. When the first supply is exhausted but before the trailing end thereof passes beyond the splicing roller, the roller is moved by power means into contact with the moving first tape with the held second tape between the two, thereby splicing the two tapes, whereupon the feed continues (now from the second supply) without interruption. i

The tape is thus spliced While it is running, and the operation is sometimes referred to as a flying tape splice.

An illustrative embodiment is described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the working parts of a flying tape splicer; and

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram.

A supply roll 111 of tape 112' that is coated on one side with normally tacky, pressure-sensitive adhesive, is rotatably mounted on one spoke of a supply wheel 113 which, in turn, is mounted for rotation about the point 114. A removable pin 115 permits the wheel to be locked when in tape feeding position.

A length of the tape 112 is withdrawn and conducted from the roll 111, adhesive side up, along a path in the direction of the arrow 116.

A platen means is positioned at a point along the said path somewhat removed from the supply 111, in the form of a series of four rollers 117 rotatably mounted in spaced relation to each other below the path of the tape 112 in a line parallel therewith.

A similar series of three splicing rollers 118 is POSl'. tioned in spaced relation to each other on the upper or opposite side of the path in a line parallel therewith. In the illustrated machine, the three rollers 118 are directly above or opposite the three spaces between the four platen rollers 117, respectively. The three splicing rollers 118 Patented July 3, 195% are journaled on a carriage 119 which is mounted for vertical reciprocation.

A second or reserve supply roll 111" of tape 112" that is coated on one side with normally tacky, pressure-sensitive adhesive, is rotatably mounted on a second spoke of the supply wheel 113.

A length of the second tape 112" is withdrawn, conducted to the splicing rollers 118 tacky side up, and the leading end portion temporarily adhered to the portions of their peripheries that face the path of the first tape 112". The preferred splicing position of the said adhered leading end portion of the tape 112", is for it to extend in an approximately straight line, parallel with the first tape 112', and adhered to the peripheries of the rollers 11% only at the points of tangency, the leading end not extending beyond the point of tangency with the last roller.

A further amount of the second tape 112 is then Withrawn from the supply roll 111 and the loop of slack tape thus formed between the splicing rollers 118 and the supply roll 111" is temporarily tacked or lightly adhered to a fixed loop-holding finger 125.

Such a loop lessens the tension and the strain on the tape and the splice during the splicing operation. For

example, the rollers 118 may then execute their downward ing rollers 118, the splicing carriage 119 is moved downwardly by means hereinafter described until the peripheries of the splicing rollers 113 bear against the first tape 112 with the second tape 112 between them. The tacky side of the first tape 112' adheres to the back of the second tape 112 so that the tapes become spliced, whereupon the tape thenceforth comes from the second supply 111", and the feed or flow of tape in the direction of the arrow 116 (and thereafter to the point of use) continues without interruption.

The splicing roller carriage 119 is moved downwardly for the above described splicing operation by a power means in the form of a solenoid 130. A vertical shaft 131 having its upper end bifurcated, depends from the carriage 119. The movement of the solenoid link 1352 in the direction of the arrow 133 which takes place when the solenoid is actuated or energized, is transmitted through a conntershaft 134 and arms 135 and 136 fixed thereto, to pull the shaft 131 downwardly, A spring 137 attached to thecountershaft arm 135, normally holds the shaft 131 and the carriage 119 at such a height that the splicing rollers 118 are spaced above the platen rollers 117 to permit passage of the tape between them.

To actuate the solenoid 1330 upon exhaustion of the first tape supply 111, a trigger arm is pivoted to a switch box 144 beneath the path of the tape 112', with the free end of the arm 145 in contact with the under side (non-tacky side) of the tape. The end of the arm 145 is provided with a roller 146 for convenient contact with the tape. A small horizontal shaft 147 is journaled in the switch box 144. The trigger arm 14-5 is fixed to a portion of the shaft 147' that extends outside the box. A switch arm 14? (Figure 2) is fixed to the shaft 147 inside the box. The shaft is impelled clockwise by spring means (not shown) to hold the arms 145 and 148 in a normally raised position. switch 149 is opened by downward movement of the arm 148. i

When the tape 112 is in place, it holds down the trigger arm 145 and with it the switch arm 148 so that the exhaustion of the supply 111, contact between the tape A normally closed 3 112 and the trigger arm 145 ceases, whereupon the arms 145 and 148 raise, the switch 149 is closed and the solenoi(l 130 is energized.

The splicing of the tapes 112 and 112" thereupon takes place, in the manner previously described, the withdrawal of the tape 112" commences, and the line switch 1'58 is manually opened by the operator to permit the splicing rollers 118 to resume-their normal raised position.

While the second tape 112 is running, the locking pin 115 is released, the supply wheel 113 is rotated 120 by the operator in the direction of the arrow 153, and the pin 115 fastened. The second supply roll 111" is then in the running position previously occupied by the first roll 111', the third roll 111" is in the ready position previously occupied by the second roll 111 and a fourth roll is brought up and placed in the reserve position previously occupied by the third roll 111". A length of tape is then withdrawn from the third roll, adhered in splicing position to the under sides of the splicing rollers 118 and tacked to the finger 125. As soon as the second roll 111" is in the said running position, the tape 112 will bear against the trigger arm 145 and open the switch 149, and the line switch 150 is closed by the operator. The machine is' then in readiness for the next cycle.

The trailing end portion of a supply roll of pressuresensitive adhesive tape, i. e., the portion in immediate contact with the core on which the tape is wound, is frequently unusable; e. g., where the core is of cardboard, the length of tape in contact therewith picks up fibers from the cardboard when removed, and its tack is thereby lessened or destroyed.

It is desirable to cut off such a trailing end portion before a new roll is spliced on, and there is accordingly provided a tape severing means adjacent the tape path between the trigger means 145 and the splicing rollers 118, operating in timed relation to the splicing roller movement. A fixed shear blade 157 is positioned below the path of the tape 112' between the trigger means 145 and the splicing rollers 118. A movable shear blade 158 positioned above the tape path is pivoted to the lower blade at 159 to coact therewith. A shaft 160 extends from a rear extension of the blade 158 to an arm 161 that is fixed to the countershaft 134.

There are numerous alternatives and equivalents, and all embodiments coming within the scope of the invention described and/ or claimed herein, are contemplated. I

Although the position of the illustrated apparatus is such that the normal flow of tape from the supply through the splicing mechanism is in a horizontal plane, the apparatus may be placed in other positions to suit the particular tape-using operation which it may be called upon to serve. The terms horizontal, up, down, vertical, and the like, as used herein are therefore relative and not limiting.

The apparatus 165 is shown in the drawings as an illustration of a use for tape wherein it is advantageous to have a continuous length of tape supplied or fed without interruption. The apparatus 165 is for making fuses for explosives. Tape is fed in at one end in fiat form. It is then formed into a V-shaped trough. Gunpowder or other highly combustible powder is continuously poured through a funnel into the moving trough. Thereafter, as the tape moves on through the apparatus 165, the two upper sides of the trough are successively folded inwardly, one over the other, to form a continuous tube in which the powder is contained.

I claim:

1. A flying tape splicing apparatus for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising means for holding a first supply of tape, means for holding a second supply of tape, a platen means on one side of the path of an extended length of tape withdrawn from the first supply, a movable splicing roller on the opposite side of the path for bolding a withdrawn length of tape from the second supply in splicing position between the periphery of the splicing roller and the first tape by temporary adherence of the second tape to the splicing roller, means for holding the splicing roller normally in spaced relation to the platen means to permit passage of the tapes between them, power means for moving the splicing roller into contact with the first tape with the held second tape between the periphery of the splicing roller and the first tape, and

a means for actuating the power means automatically upon exhaustion of the first supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 having a severing means between the said actuating means and the splicing roller operative in timed relation to the movement of the splicing roller for cutting off the trailing end portion of the first tape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the power means comprises a solenoid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the said actuating means comprises a trigger in contact with the withdrawn length of the first tape between the splicing roller and the first supply, and a connection between the trigger and the power means operative upon release of the said contact between the tape and the trigger.

5. A flying tape splicing apparatus for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising means for holding a first supply of tape, means for holding a second supply of tape, platen rollers on one side of the path of an extended length of tape withdrawn from the first supply, a movable set of splicing rollers on the opposite side of the path for holding a withdrawn length of tape from the second supply in splicing position between the peripheries of the splicing rollers and the first tape by temporary adherence of the second tape to the splicing rollers, means for holding the splicing rollers normally in spaced relation to the platen rollers to permit passage of the tapes between the platen rollers and the splicing rollers, power means for moving the splicing rollers into contact with the first tape with the held second tape between the peripheries of the splicing rollers and the first tape, and means for actuating the power means automatically upon exhaustion of the first supply, the said actuating means comprising a trigger in contact with the withdrawn length of the first tape between the splicing rollers and the first supply, and a connection between the trigger and the power means operative upon release of the said contact between the tape and the trigger.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the platen rollers are in spaced relation to each other and in which the splicing rollers are in spaced relation to each other, the splicing rollers being directly opposite the respective spaces between the platen rollers.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the said actuating means comprises a pivoted trigger arm in contact with the withdrawn length of the first tape between the splicing rollers and the first supply, and a connection between the trigger arm and the power means operative upon release of the said contact between the tape and the trigger arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the platen rollers are in spaced relation to each other and in which the splicing rollers are in spaced relation to each other, the splicing rollers being directly opposite the respective spaces between the platen rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Great Britain Jan. 7, 1932 

1. A FLYING SPLICING APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE COMPRISING MEANS FOR HOLDING A FIRST SUPPLY OF TAPE, MEANS FOR HOLDING A SECOND SUPPLY OF TAPE, A PLATEN MEANS ON ONE SIDE OF THE PATH OF AN EXTENDED LENGTH OF TAPE WITHDRAWN FROM THE FIRST SUPPLY, A MOVABLE SPLICING ROLLER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF PATH FOR HOLDING A WITHDRAWN LENGTH OF TAPE FROM THE SECOND SUPPLY IN SPLICING POSITION BETWEEN THE PERIPHERY OF THE SPLICING ROLLER AND THE FIRST TAPE BY TEMPORARY ADHERENCE OF THE SECOND TAPE TO THE SPLICING ROLLER, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE SPLICING ROLLER NORMALLY IN SPACED RELATION TO THE PLATEN MEANS TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF THE TAPES BETWEEN THEM, POWER MEANS FOR MOVING THE SPLICING ROLLER INTO CONTACT WITH THE FIRST TAPE WITH THE HELD SECOND TAPE BETWEEN THE 